A behavioral intervention to reduce presurgical anxiety

A multiple baseline study was conducted across five hysterectomy patients between the ages of 30-36. Three patients received a treatment intervention consisting of general and sensory information, muscle relaxation, a cognitive coping technique, and a pre-anesthetic interview. Two yoked, placebo control patients watched a 20-min video· tape about surgery, practiced recovery exercises, and made up stories from TAT cards. Self-report measures taken were the Hospital Stress Rating Scale, a recovery inventory, and postsurgical pain ratings. Physiological measures consisted of pulse, respiration, blood pressure, skin temperature, and blood lactates. Recovery variables were taken on amount of pain medication taken, number ·of days in the hospital, · vomiting, and psychiatric or physical complications. The results indicated that patients in the treatment condition reported less pain and took fewer pain medications after surgery. All other variables indicated little or no change. All patients experienced a decrease in blood lactate levels after the training session. Training time was approximately 1 hour, and thus hospital staff could conduct the training in a reasonable amount of time